Good morning…
I have heard it said, “When we emerge from this global pandemic, we will be either a drunk, a hunk, a chunk or a monk!” This extended period of social isolation has held us long enough for our true colors to begin coming out in the mirror. What might we see if we looked at the truth?
A DRUNK – To take the edge off of the stress and the worry, the boredom and the loneliness, some of us are drawn to drink more, and drinking more can gradually spiral us down into addiction.
A HUNK – With more people working from home, to burn off energy and to lift ones spirits, some of us are exercising more, preparing fresh foods, and establishing a balance of healthy daily habits.
A CHUNK – Some of us use excess food and drink to comfort, to cajole, and to cover up painful or overwhelming emotions, so as our anxiety level rises, unfortunately so does our scale.
A MONK – In the disconnection from old patterns of living, some of us are turning inward to God for guidance. Protecting space for silence and solitude, some are experiencing deeper stability, serenity, and soulfulness.
I suppose, for me, it all boils down to how we choose to respond to one guiding Scripture verse.
Don’t just listen to the Word of Truth and not respond to it, for that is the essence of self-deception. So always let his Word become like poetry written and fulfilled by your life! If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin (James 1:22-24, TPT).
Coming from a divine origin, we are each made in God’s collaborative image (Genesis 1:26) and filled every day with the breath of the living LORD (Genesis 2:7). By God we were uniquely knit together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) and birthed into the world naked and unashamed (Genesis 2:25). In God’s sight, we are precious, honored, and loved (Isaiah 43:4). We are fully loved children of God, in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s redeeming love (Romans 8:37-39). God’s Word of Truth endures forever (1 Peter 1:24-25).
Noticing the loving way our Creator sees us as we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we are each invited to wrestle with these three questions:
“Am I willing to listen and respond to what the Word of Truth says about me, a completely cherished child of God?”
“How do I feel about this chapter in my life most resembling a story about a drunk, a hunk, a chunk, or a monk?”
“What might my life look like if I allowed God’s Word to become like poetry written and fulfilled by my life?”
Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:6-7, TPT).
…Sue…
